Mahoning director is Dem's Ohio Election Official of the Year

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office selected Mahoning County Board of Elections Director Joyce Kale-Pesta as its Democratic Ohio Election Official of the Year.

“This shows the taxpayers in Mahoning County that we have the best election official in the entire state,” said David Betras, an elections board member and chairman of the county Democratic Party. “She is dedicated and devoted to providing outstanding elections in Mahoning County.”

Betras and Mark Munroe, the elections board chairman and head of the county Republican Party, nominated Kale-Pesta for the award.

In their nominating letter, Betras and Munroe wrote: “The fact that two people who rarely agree on anything are nominating her and are thoroughly convinced that she deserves the recognition attendant to this award speaks volumes about her qualifications, commitment to public service, tireless pursuit of excellence, and total dedication to our democracy and the electoral process upon which it is built.”